BMW reportedly working on ultra-efficient car to rival Tesla

BMW is said to be developing an ultra fuel-efficient model that would use just 0.4 litres of fuel per 100km - or 588 miles per gallon.

What kind of car would that be? Apparently Automobilwiche’s sources claim the four-seater will have a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic body and a curb weight of less than 2,655 pounds. Let’s contrast that with the BMW i8 (pictured above), which weighs 3,455 pounds and averages 28 miles per gallon.

Unlike Tesla's cars, this won’t be a fully-electric model. According to rumours, it's a hybrid that'll rely on a two-cylinder gas engine to generate power for its electric motor. The i8 is a hybrid too, of course, but performance-focussed, while the primary goal with this prototype is efficiency. That said, it'll still do in excess of 111mph.

So will this turn into an actual production model? It possible, we suppose, but it's much more likely it’s a prototype that will serve to inspire features on upcoming BMW models already in the works.